ShopBack Won't Give Me My Cashback

Homr on 20/12/2021 - 21:35

G'day bargainers,

need some advice here.

I made a large purchase on groupon for $4704 with 15% shopback. Got screenshot and everything but shopback has denied my cashback. I have escalated it but shopback got back to me with the reason "the cashback was rejected by the merchant because it was not attributed to ShopBack"

15% from $4704 is a large amount for me to just forget and I wouldn't of made the purchase if it wasn't for the 15%. Is there anything I can do to claim my cashback? Shopback is claiming that groupon rejected it so there's nothing they can do on their end.

many thanks.

General Discussion

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Comments

                          • misterpotatomato on 21/12/2021 - 20:13
                            +6

                            @darxtorm: You realise that ShopBack isn't a charity, and only exists because it is profitable, yes? It's not some dude in their basement doing it as a service to other people. It's a business that turns a profit. So, they are getting paid something with each transaction. Considering there is more than one cashback provider, it seems like it could be fairly lucrative as well.

                            Bearing in mind that they are getting paid to do this, do you really think it is madness that their "product" (cashback) doing what it is supposed to do (you getting your cashback) is madness? I sure don't.

                            At the moment, it seems like ShopBack can run a deal that says 100% off a certain store, ensure millions of dollars in sales, and then turn around and say "sorry, we didn't track any of those, and there's nothing you can do" and then just give some weak and ambiguous reference that you can talk to the ACCC if you want (without even specifying if I should be reporting ShopBack to the ACCC, or the vendor).

                            If ShopBack says you'll get % back, and has no way of ensuring that you will, then it feels a bit like a scheme to me.

                        • Zachary on 22/12/2021 - 11:56

                          @misterpotatomato:

                          This is the exact reason why I don't use ShopBack.

                          Do you use cashrewards instead?

                        • CalmLemons on 22/12/2021 - 21:29

                          @misterpotatomato: Just adding, what we're talking about is affiliate commissions.

                          Unfortunately with the new privacy tech built into browsers and 'scalper' sites, plugins like honey etc, it's really hit or miss.

                          Either a built in plugin on the OPs browser got the commission or because the amount is so large, groupon is pretty much playing hard ball. Places like shopback get a % commission of the affiliate link, e.g. if the total commission is 10%, then shopback take 5%, then give the user 5%. In this case it might have been 25% commission, so 10% to shopback and 15% to OP.

                          However all that needs to happen is for groupon to say sorry don't want to pay.

                          Behind all this is the money maker though with affiliate commission sites - much of which are unaudited and they are pretty much free to do whatever they want.

                          This is why most of the reviews you search for are pretty much bogus and review sites pretty much say mostly everything is good is because once you click through their site, they get the commission from the sale.

                      • trapper on 21/12/2021 - 14:03

                        @gotyourback: Not just talking about spikes though, with proper statistical analysis you should be able to tell if a brand is cheating even slightly.

                      • MrFrugalSpend on 22/12/2021 - 08:11
                        +9

                        @gotyourback: … And how is Groupon going? (perhaps filtered by large transactions) - surely directing them to this thread and the potential brand damage and loss of trust with the large number of readers on here is enough to make them take this issue more seriously.

                        It comes across as highly unlikely OP would go to this much effort and fabricate screenshots etc showing it had been tracked with ShopBack for the sake of it.
                        We have been told that OP agreed to paying $4704-$705.60 = $3998.40 in the transaction, followed the process carefully, and says he wouldn't have bought it otherwise.
                        That would mean you (SB) are owed the money and OP is owed the majority of that as cash back. You do have a leg to stand on.
                        So go fix it, the excuses on here are coming off as ridiculous… pretending like this is some sort of optional charity - it's OPs money only handed over on the agreement $705.60 of it would be handed back - this is core big business for both of you, and this thread should embarrass your customer relations to a large enough amount to remedy any dishonoured promises.

                        If there's truly a problem with the process, we'd love to hear the full details from Groupon, and why they believe the screenshots are inaccurate, so we can avoid the same mistakes and have confidence any advertised cashback will be honored - so let's get to them bottom of it and post their responses on here. Do they have a rep who will explain this for us?

                        Otherwise, it'd make plenty think twice about any large purchase through either of you.

                        • capslock janitor on 22/12/2021 - 14:40
                          +1

                          @MrFrugalSpend: WELL PUT.

                          • MrFrugalSpend on 22/12/2021 - 16:17
                            +3

                            @capslock janitor: sometimes we need to just call for a 'cut the crap' and sort it out attitude

                            • MrFrugalSpend on 22/12/2021 - 23:34
                              +2

                              @MrFrugalSpend: Furthermore, I don't see where the big issue is here for Groupon, and in turn, Cashback regardless of if tracking messes up ….
                              - They have a deal where they are happy to honor cashback for referrals for the stated percentage.
                              - OP can prove they attempted to claim the cashback with screenshots etc.
                              - OP can prove they didn't get the cashback.
                              - Groupon can see they didn't pay it to someone else.
                              - OP can prove they paid the full value of money to Groupon under condition of getting the stated percentage back - It's their money Groupon now has.

                              So… why can't they just pay it as per the offer? i.e. regardless of tracking anomolies.

                              Unless Groupon want to openly admit they don't want to honour such things, which is deceptive and why sign up for them with affiliates in the first place!? If it was an honest tracking mistake, and OP has the proof, there's no reason a company with good customer service wouldn't honour it.

              • DrScavenger on 22/12/2021 - 23:56

                @gotyourback: If affiliate network/brand rejects for no reason consistently can you punish them for making you look bad?

              • dealman on 24/12/2021 - 11:13
                -1

                @gotyourback: Shopback is the worst… They should also be banned from all booking.com deals since the price is always higher than retail if you go direct.

                Shopback is a consistently 'shit' company. Never fail to under perform.

      • morse on 21/12/2021 - 03:30
        +21

        Our system is 100% automated, we don't have time to sit there and select which Cashback payments go through.

        And yet you have time to damage your own brand by demonstrating awful customer service and attitude in a public forum.

        • Homr on 21/12/2021 - 09:40
          +5

          Just want to mention GYB has been helpful and tried to help me to claim back my cashback but there's so much he can do if the result lies with Groupon

          • nedski on 21/12/2021 - 10:13
            +20

            @Homr: Well if the issue is really with Groupon, Shopback should kick them off their platform as this kind of conduct damages their brand.

            • weezlebub on 21/12/2021 - 10:51
              +1

              @nedski: but if they kick groupon off, they'd have to kick other vendors off …

              SB's whole business model relies on good relationships with vendors and customers and trying to be a facilitator … messy when things go bad

              • USER DC on 24/12/2021 - 03:36

                @weezlebub: There's a famous saying Customer is always Most important.

                SB has many different merchant partners, loosing one merchant partner is not that big of a deal. Sure it will cause a massive profits to other CB providers accepting that merchant. Like what happened with Big W or Woolworths I cant remember which one before, (CR stopped Big W/Woolworths because merchant stopped partnering with them but continued with SB).
                That one change didn't cause all CR customers to transition to SB.
                Only caused those needing Big w/Woolworths to transition over, and for that one merchant only.

                Whereas If Cashback provider starts being Dodgy with too many customers, it will eventually loose customers, hence loose money even if it grows No. of merchant partners

          • morse on 21/12/2021 - 10:37

            @Homr: That’s good, but it’s a partnership. Really the deal is through both organisations. It doesn’t look good for ShopBack if they can’t honour it due to their partnership with Groupon. SB is in a better position and to negotiate than yourself and shouldn’t continue business with Groupon if they don’t honour their commissions.

          • nomoneya1 on 21/12/2021 - 14:21

            @Homr: GYB has been helpful +1

          • MrFrugalSpend on 22/12/2021 - 23:27

            @Homr: non-sense - shopback can take it up with groupon

      • Sidog on 23/12/2021 - 20:12
        +1

        This is a disgrace… I've always thought this cash back deals were a but suss and this has just confirmed it!

      • bigbadboogieman on 23/12/2021 - 23:32
        +1

        You need to take community feedback and get Groupon to fix their game or drop them from your panel. What good are they if you don't pay genuinely earned cashback..? No good to SB and no good to the community.

        • dealman on 24/12/2021 - 11:15

          Anyone notice the common thread also is that Luxury escapes and Groupon are all from the same parent co.

          Same shitty screw the customer attitude in all their deals

      • Sidor on 08/04/2024 - 06:12

        You system is not automatic, it is just sh1t

  • BuyoTheCat on 20/12/2021 - 23:34

    There are some categories that are not eligible for cash backs.

    • USER DC on 21/12/2021 - 00:19

      FOR groupon ? no not really

  • Ash-Say on 21/12/2021 - 00:01
    +7

    My partner is awaiting $400 cashback to be confirmed which is now 1 week overdue. Already raised a delayed enquiry and waiting it to be resolved.

    Funny thing is all small value cashbacks ($0.5, $2.5 etc.) were approved before the estimated confirmation date.

    I can only hope for a good outcome.

    • Neoika on 21/12/2021 - 07:00
      +6

      You have been caught by SB already.

      • [Deactivated] on 21/12/2021 - 07:48
        +3

        lol

        Nearly all Cashback sites specifically mention this…

        any new, unique individual, who is not a member of your household (including yourself),

        There will always be a Karen there thinking the rules don't apply to them.

        Anti-fraud detection through iP addresses is one of the simplest automated systems you start off with….

        But that doesn't make it abuse-proof.

        There are other methods sites also use (device-ids, iP scores, browser type….) and whilst they weed out most abusers, it is impossible for them to weed out the serial abusers unless they have good KYC.

        You could rock 10 Ozbargain accounts without any issues if you know what you're doing…

        Anti-abuse systems are falling behind mainly due to privacy being more and more valued.

        If you were so pedantic on making a forum post and bitching maybe you shoulda told your "partner" to sign up using a different iP address and not get their account flagged by not sharing your network.

        I guess there some criticism can be directed towards Shopback's Refer-A-Friend bonus as the T&Cs are not as clear as Cashrewards and even self-contradicting.

        1) Shopback did not specifically state this like Cashrewards

        any new, unique individual, who is not a member of your household (including yourself),

        It is safe to assume everyone in your household uses the same network and considering all sites flag alt-accounts based off same iP addresses, Shopback should really add something like that.

        2) Shopback unwisely mentions this.
        How do I refer my friends & family to ShopBack?
        You can retrieve your personalized referral code from here, then proceed to share it with your friends and family!

        Well many people consider there mum, dad, sister and brother to be family. In that case, family may live under the same household. Family = Household = Same iP = Shared/Family Devices = Fraud System Activates.

        But Shopback most likely have their ass covered by their most important T&C:
        (iv) any similar activity or similar device used determined by ShopBack in its sole discretion to be inconsistent with the purpose of ShopBack's Refer-a-Friend Programme.

        This is so broad and can be anything.

        In extremely rare circumstances, it genuinely may be a legitimate family member referral however considering Shopback uses iP addresses to decline cashback it is so essential for SB to add the "who is not a member of your household (including yourself)" bit and should also add * to the family bit like… "excluding family living under the same household" or just totally remove the family bit.

  • [Deactivated] on 21/12/2021 - 07:11
    +10

    ShopBack Won't Give Me My Cashback

    Groupon won't give me my cashback*

    Shopback just like Cashrewards is an affiliate partner with various shopping sites.

    They act as the middleman and only get paid if the partner site confirms the cashback.

    $705 is far too big for Shopback to cop for out of their own pocket.

    Cashback is a tough business particularly if the partner site is shitty.

    If Groupon rejects Shopback's TQ then not much can be done no matter how much you flip out at Shopback.

    I'd suggest you complain directly to Groupon.

    Each retailers cashback process varies.

    I cancelled an order via one retailer yet I was still rewarded the cashback through Shopback.

    Either the retailer didn't bother with a chargeback/has a very bad cashback confirmation process. Or Shopback didn't did pass on the chargeback.

    I doubt Shopback/Cashrewards will intentionally deceive you. Their reputation is worth much more than a few $.

    • Grunntt on 21/12/2021 - 10:09
      +8

      So, first you excuse them as -

      $705 is far too big for Shopback to cop for out of their own pocket.

      then because -

      Their reputation is worth much more than a few $.

      Do we excuse this because it's too large or too small an amount?

      If Groupon rejects Shopback's TQ then not much can be done no matter how much you flip out at Shopback.

      Do you realise how large a business Shopback actually is? This is not some small business run from home. They can apply plenty of pressure if they actually wanted to.
      https://www.afr.com/companies/retail/cashrewards-rival-shopb…

      • [Deactivated] on 21/12/2021 - 10:16

        Never did I excuse them.

        I simply stated the obvious. It is highly unlikely that Shopback is going to fork out $705 for Groupon.

        Generally for small amounts Cashback sites just cover it themselves.

        • Grunntt on 21/12/2021 - 10:25
          +1

          Unfortunately the contents of your post are otherwise. What may seem 'the obvious' to you does not make it an acceptable fact.
          Every one of your comments referring to Shopback is offering to excuse them from any responsibility in this situation. ie yes you are excusing them.

          • [Deactivated] on 21/12/2021 - 10:33

            @Grunntt: That's just how the Cashback industry works.
            Partner site > Cashback site > You.

            No Cashback site will fork out hundreds of dollars if tracking messes up unless in extreme circumstances.

            What may seem 'the obvious' to you does not make it an acceptable fact.

            It was never a fact and you don't have to take my word for it. If SB was going to cover the $705 then this post wouldn't be here.

            Every one of your comments referring to Shopback is offering to excuse them from any responsibility in this situation. ie yes you are excusing them.

            Nope I did criticize SB.

            • Grunntt on 21/12/2021 - 11:25

              @[Deactivated]:

              Nope I did criticize SB

              Can you point me to exactly which of your statements is actually critical of Shopback? All I see is reasoning why they are not the problem.

              When I stated : "does not make it an acceptable fact" I should have somehow indicated that I meant to emphasise 'acceptable' rather than 'fact'. Whether it was a fact or not does not make it automatically acceptable.

              I do have a very good understanding of how businesses such as this work and know that ones of this size can and do have the ability to exert quite a bit of pressure on their partners if they feel like it. Obviously Shopback just don't feel the need to back their users (who are the actual source of their income).

              • [Deactivated] on 21/12/2021 - 16:50
                +2

                @Grunntt: Lol clearly they aren't. They appear to suck up to their partners, probably not wanting to risk getting jack all.

                Can you point me to exactly which of your statements is actually critical of Shopback?

                1) Lux Escapes
                2) Misleading Referral T&Cs.

                Maybe you should give some proper advice instead of being iffy at me for "excusing" SB. I don't work for SB. I agree that SB should put more pressure on their partner sites.

                Let me know how you would run a Cashback site. Nothing is a perfect world out there.

    • May4th on 22/12/2021 - 19:23
      +4

      it doesn't matter whose fault it is. shopback is the one who advertised a cashback and the customer buys from the retailer on the understanding they will get the cashback - this is the contract, assuming they satisfy all other criteria.

      it's shopback's job to ensure that the merchants comply with paying out the cashback, or kick them off their platform if they pull a shifty. it's shopback's reputation at stake here. frankly as a consumer i don't give a toss whether the problem is at groupon's end or SB's end - if groupon isn't honouring the cashback terms then I would hold SB responsible for enforcing it.

      if i told you you have a 50% chance of getting a 5% cashback from a retailer would you still use SB regardless of the amount of cashback? it's in their own interest to chase retailers or cover the loss themselves, it's in the business model.

      it's got a bad enough reputation as it is, stuff customers around at your own peril.

  • TrustNoBody on 21/12/2021 - 07:54
    +16

    i got rejected i think either shopback or cashrewards for electricity and gas connection which was over $200 and they said energy australia rejected it but i had screenshots plus proof of first bill coming n i said i was going to leave energyaustralia after first bill and never use SB or CR ever again n tell everyone and next minute i was approved …
    don’t let them get away with a huge amount like this

  • ihbh on 21/12/2021 - 09:05
    +2

    Is there anything I can do to claim my cashback?

    Yep, tell Groupon to pay Shopback, who can then pay you.

    • [Deactivated] on 21/12/2021 - 09:15

      ^

      Always chase up with the original retailer especially if Shopback TQ's fails.

      • Homr on 21/12/2021 - 09:41
        +1

        Thanks, will try that

        • Kangal on 21/12/2021 - 21:08
          +6

          …but will you update your progress here?

          $705 is a huge sum, and this topic is very central to OzBargain. If you get a resolution, people want to know. Usually enquiries like this usually leave the community ghosted after a couple days.

      • capslock janitor on 22/12/2021 - 20:54

        What's TQ?

  • nedski on 21/12/2021 - 10:11
    +7

    Another reason I will never use Shopback. Never had an issue with Cashrewards.

    • USER DC on 21/12/2021 - 23:11
      +2

      I've had issues with Groupon on CR too,

      In this case, the issue is highly with the Groupon, not just SB

  • freefall101 on 21/12/2021 - 12:37
    +11

    This is why I never use any cashback unless I'm already happy with the price I'm paying and it's just an added bonus.

    Anything that pays you back later is relying on the opportunity to deny that amount back. It's what rebates have done for years.

  • knobbs on 21/12/2021 - 13:01
    +5

    Maybe the cashback companies should make their own browser that we can use when making a purchase. That way we can be 100% sure on tracking

  • 8ball inc on 21/12/2021 - 13:23
    +2

    Agreed. Same thing happened to me. Avoid Shopback at all costs.
    Also agree that Cashrewards is more reliable (and their customer services is generally very responsive).

  • Gina Rinehart on 21/12/2021 - 13:28
    +12

    The hassles and risk with cashback companies is too much for me. I'd prefer we stop supporting these and encourage merchants to just give a bloody discount so we don't have to jump through hoops to make it feel like we're getting an awesome deal.

    IMO this shouldn't even be a market segment. But it is, and people support it. I don't doubt there are good deals, but as mentioned, I'd much prefer the actual stores just run promos directly.

  • JimB on 21/12/2021 - 13:56

    Was the the purchase tracked as pending and then denied/rejected/disappeared or was never tracked from day one?

    For any large purchase, make sure you it's tracked.

    There's a Click Activity function.

    I haven't used Groupon for 10 years… just too much hassle. In your case, I would say the issue lies with Groupon.

    • Alinnia on 21/12/2021 - 18:17

      Agreed. I would strongly advise in the future to make sure your transaction is at least tracked for cashback before using the Groupon. If it's not tracked, then get a refund on the purchase and buy it later in the future when there is another Cashback deal etc.

      Groupon has a refund policy for most of their deals if it's unused. If it's within 7 days, you can get it refunded back to original payment. If it's after 7 days, you can still get it refunded but as Groupon credits with 6 months expiry date (Groupon credits used to be 3 months expiry then they extended because of Covid restrictions).

  • Big Lenny on 21/12/2021 - 14:29
    +5

    happened to me with cashrewards

    small transactions approved no worries, when it was a big one ($2.5k), denied mysteriously

    • ihbh on 21/12/2021 - 20:31

      big one

      Give us a hint?

      • Big Lenny on 22/12/2021 - 08:56

        holiday package deal

  • Poor Ass on 21/12/2021 - 14:46

    OP what did you buy?

    • Homr on 21/12/2021 - 15:49
      +1

      Invisalign treatment and its working very well

      • Poor Ass on 21/12/2021 - 15:52

        nice I got it done many years back too

        • Homr on 21/12/2021 - 16:04

          how much did you pay?

          • Poor Ass on 21/12/2021 - 16:21

            @Homr: would be been around $3000 to $4000 total back in 2012

            this was done at orthodontist and they made me come in every few weeks for a check up and gave me about 3 sets each time before going back

            what I've heard from some people is that some places they gave the entire set to them and that was it no check up.

            but at the end of the treatment they should give you a top and bottom bar + a retainer

            so did they give you all the sets and are you required to go back for check ups?

            • Homr on 21/12/2021 - 16:45

              @Poor Ass: Damn, only $3000 - $4000, yours must be a short treatment

              Yes they gave me all the sets, 30 sets in total so 30 fortnights.

              They don't have regular checkups anymore, its all done remotely. We get this scanbox which we use together with our phone to take pictures of our teeth and the dentist monitors your treatment from there. It's pretty cool

              My treatment plan doesn't come with retainer cost, I will have to pay them separately after I finish

              • Poor Ass on 21/12/2021 - 16:58

                @Homr: wasn't short it was just the amount of money back then regardless of time

                def over a year and can't remember how many sets…. some sets you wear longer than others

                I think mine was bit more professional

                I mean i'm sure you had to go in so they can scan your teeth, do the mould… blue some holders on your teeth right? (they grind this off at the end of treatment)

                sure results will be fine and remote is more convenient. But going in a shop for them to check progress I like that more.

                • Homr on 21/12/2021 - 17:17

                  @Poor Ass: "I mean I'm sure you had to go in so they can scan your teeth, do the mould… blue some holders on your teeth right? (they grind this off at the end of treatment)

                  yes yes, I did that mould / scan and "attachments"

      • Zachary on 22/12/2021 - 12:00
        -1

        $4k for that?! Holy shi….

  • Choc0 on 21/12/2021 - 15:04
    +17

    Typical shopback

    $2 cash back tracks instantly

    $200 cash back, and the merchant mysteriously rejects it

  • bohn on 21/12/2021 - 15:08
    +1

    I never count on cashback working for things like Groupon. Accommodation sites I'd only consider it if I was able to cancel and get a refund.

  • NocteRegem on 21/12/2021 - 15:43
    +8

    ShopBack is known for doing this and is reason alone to not use them, let alone their poor security practices having compromised user data.

    • dealman on 24/12/2021 - 11:34
      +1

      Surprised more people don't realise this

  • dmbminaret on 21/12/2021 - 17:44
    +2

    This is exactly the reason I stopped using shopback. Cash rewards doesn't seem to be riddled with the same issues:

    https://imgur.com/a/Rt6vGnO

  • THICKnSLOW on 21/12/2021 - 18:51
    +1

    Well it would make bad business sense to name their company Nadaback

  • Neoika on 21/12/2021 - 20:44
    +3

    Sorry, your cashback has been used to fund our campaign! e.g.

  • TOKEN8 on 21/12/2021 - 21:51
    +4

    I had the same with these guys. Funny how it is the big transactions that it happens with. I had many smaller transaction go through no probs, the moment I had something 4 figures it mysteriously failed to track.

    I had them close my account, they're just dishonest.

  • GourmetFoodie on 21/12/2021 - 21:56
    +1

    Your only option is to return if possible.

    General note - I don’t buy anything I wouldn’t have otherwise bought without the cash back. Then the cash back becomes a sweet “extra” and if I don’t get it, no worries. Life is too short.

  • belongsinforums on 21/12/2021 - 23:44
    +3

    reminder that shopback 'claim' your cashback if you leave it in your account for 12 months. that, plus the data leak, made me never use it again

    • cookie2 on 22/12/2021 - 07:17
      +1

      Cashbacks claimed by SB? that's so dodgy. Didn't know that. CR all the way!

      • belongsinforums on 22/12/2021 - 09:13
        +1

        Cash rewards does it too if you don't login for 12 months. Beware

    • Zachary on 22/12/2021 - 12:01

      plus the data leak, made me never use it again

      Apparently they have "fixed it" so you should be good…

  • [Deactivated] on 22/12/2021 - 00:15
    -3

    Shopback have been great to me, they literally fix any issues for me.

    I have a pretty good track record with CB, generally it's an error on the other end.

    I got it down packed, I only use Firefox on my phone for CR and I use SB App. If I'm on the laptop, I only use Firefox for both and that's the only purpose of that browser.

    Cart is always empty, if not I reset everything. Don't ever open another window, or another app.

    I try avoid buying anything which can't be returned, if customer service comes back with a NO I simply return the items.

    Some businesses list items as individual CASHBACK, it's great. Iconic sometimes does this, sometimes it doesn't.

    This should be STANDARD.

    Anyways, I'm never attached to anything I buy with CB…it's a bonus and I try use it for returnable items only. If that's how companies wanna play, it'll cost them in return shipping!

    Believe me, Iconic wouldn't let me return items from their Outlet recently and guess what? They agreed and gave me 10% on top!

    I rarely ever return, great history and if that's the case you'll find businesses want your business.

    I'm sorry about the issue, esp with the large CB it's a huge risk.

    I cbf reading the whole thread but I am curious to what you bought and if it's possible to return?

    I never use anything until cashback has at least tracked, this should be a general rule.

    If I buy wine, I won't even pick up my order if the CB doesn't track.

    I'll cancel orders if able, if no tracking.

    Generally both SB and CR track very quickly unless a issue is noted.

    Keep it simply, it works. If it doesn't, it's the other end and nothing you can do but return the item.

    P.S. Return items is last resort, I actually haven't had issues for a long time. Early on biggest issue I believe was having left items in the cart.

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 22/12/2021 - 07:20
    +1

    DONT EVER BUY ANYTHING BASED ON CASHBACK IS ISNT GARENTEED

    cashback, crypto back, bjs back etc unless it says 'instant' cash back take it as a bonus and not a reason to buy something

  • baskinghobo on 22/12/2021 - 07:58
    +2

    It is probably the affiliate sites refusing to pay so it doesn't bother me all that much. What bothers me more is when shopback removes the cashback completely without even rejecting it like they are trying to hide something.

  • purplelady on 22/12/2021 - 08:39

    I have bad impression of Shopback because of this too. You just don't know if they're going to approve it. So when CR has it, if the % difference isn't much, I go with CR

  • SirCH on 22/12/2021 - 08:39

    FWIW I normally use ShopBack because the cashback rates are normally slightly higher than Cash rewards. And I've never had a problem with any tracking, including on a laptop purchase offering around 15% back.

    Not covered by GYB could be any other browser extension (potentially maliciously) or other malicious program on the customers computer, or maybe an ad click from WEEKS ago. I believe that tracking cookies can last up to 30 days and some merchants operate on the "first click" rule. Maybe OP clicked on a coupon site 2 weeks ago for Groupon, then came to ShopBack and purchased this, but the coupon site got the commission.

  • cyrax83 on 22/12/2021 - 09:05

    Sounds like you must have clicked something before, leaving a cookie and messing up your cashback?

  • cashless on 22/12/2021 - 09:42
    +4

    Stopped using SB a couple of years ago after the data leak.
    Had my suspicions about them long before that (lots of failed tracking, especially if the sum involved was more than a few $).
    Exclusively use CR now - haven't skipped a beat

  • SLY JD on 22/12/2021 - 10:00
    +5

    I wish cash back schemes were banned form Ozbargain. They're borderline scams. Half the time they don't work, and you there is zero support when things don't work.
    They have to be treated as a "bonus" to the purchase IF it works.

    • Haliax on 22/12/2021 - 12:46
      +2

      Exactly, it's a bonus and shouldn't be used for making buying decisions.

  • Haliax on 22/12/2021 - 12:42
    -2

    Here's an idea, don't but things assuming you're going to get cashback and don't buy things you wouldn't pay for at full price.

    • initiateit on 23/12/2021 - 12:34
      -1

      Yeah despite being in legal terms of sale, why would a person think they would get something that was promised?

      • Haliax on 23/12/2021 - 12:56
        -2

        Do you know what a strawman is? Because, I neither claimed it wasn't in the legal terms of the sale an or that he wasn't promised it. But,
        things can go wrong thus to assume that the cashback was certain is a flaw in logic.

  • ensanguined on 22/12/2021 - 12:46
    +1

    Such an inherently untrustworthy business model. It would be impossible for us to prove that SB received and held onto the commission, and it's in the best interest of the ones paying out the funds to claim the terms weren't met. So stupid.

  • Dabbler68 on 22/12/2021 - 14:38
    +4

    Where there's smoke there's fire.

    We hear the occasional story about problems with CR, but many stories about SB. If the vendors were the problem, then both rewards organisations would have similar results. They don't.

  • xlimit on 22/12/2021 - 15:02
    +3

    RULE - If you can, go through Cashrewards first, ALWAYS.

    This my lesson learnt after using both of them for a number of years. Cashrewards will honour their cash backs most of the time, and when they don't they will try to work with you where they can. I've always found the customer service at Cashrewards excellent. A few times when something hasn't tracked, they've contacted the store on my behalf and followed my case up to see if I was eligible for a cash back. The only times when they've said 'no' is when I've broken a rule like use a code that wasn't listed etc

    Shopback will track, but when you have a problem that's the end of the line. Their reps usually say "well if it didn't track, it didn't track…oh wells, too bad, better luck next time". This is especially infuriating after you've made triple sure to click through correctly and to keep everything happening on the one tab.

    I'd rather a slightly smaller cashback from cashrewards, than gamble the lot with shopback.

    • Homr on 23/12/2021 - 09:55

      Thanks will try and use CR first in the future

  • lltravel on 22/12/2021 - 15:14
    +3

    all these cashback places are scams

    people who use them are getting conned

  • neo on 22/12/2021 - 16:31
    +1

    I am amazed that these businesses have not been banned from here.

  • jonow83 on 22/12/2021 - 17:27

    Cancel your Groupon and ask for a refund.

  • Dack Smith on 22/12/2021 - 19:18

    Why did you use ShopBack?

    They don’t sound like they’re backed by any large conglomerates or have a transparent business model.

    Your money is gone, just use it as a life lesson not to be naive.

    • Homr on 23/12/2021 - 09:55

      Shopback has been good to me since now

      I use them for the NordVPN 95% cashback and got $112 or something back

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